RODNEY ALCALA

This "being" is a convicted rapist, torturer and serial killer who evaded justice for 40 years.

Dubbed the "Dating Game Killer" this "being" was once a contestant on the show "The Dating Game", where he won a date with another contestant on the show, however the date never happened because the woman found him to be too creepy.

Tali Shapiro

Tali Shapiro was an 8-year-old on her way to school when she was lured into Alcala´s car, an act that did not go unnoticed by a nearby motorist who followed the car and contacted the police.

Alcala took Tali into his apartment where he raped, beat and attempted to strangle her with a 10-pound metal bar. When police arrived, they kicked in the door and found Tali laying on the kitchen floor in a large puddle of blood and not breathing. Because of the brutality of the beating they thought she was dead and began to search for Alcala  in the apartment.

A police officer, returning to the kitchen, saw Tali struggling to breathe. All attention went to trying to keep her alive and at some point Alcala managed to slip out the backdoor.

When searching Alcala´s apartment the police found several pictures, many of young girls. They also found out his name and that he attended UCLA. But it took several months before they would find Alcala.

On the Run but Not Hiding

Alcala, now using the name John Berger, fled to New York and enrolled in NYU film school. From 1968 to 1971, even though he was listed on the FBI´s most wanted list, he lived undetected and in full view. Playing the role of a "groovy" film student, amateur photographer, single hot shot, Alcala moved around New York´s single clubs.

During the summer months he worked at an all girl´s summer drama camp in New Hampshire.

In 1971, two girls attending the camp recognized Alcala on a wanted poster at the post office. The police were notified and Alcala was arrested.

Indeterminate Sentencing

In August 1971, Alcala was returned to Los Angeles, but the prosecuter´s case had a major flaw- Tali Shapiro´s family had returned to Mexico soon after Tali recovered from the attack. Without their main witness, the decision was made to offer Alcala a plea deal.

Alcala, charged with rape, kidnapping, assault, and attempted murder, accepted a deal to plead guilty to child molestation. The other charges were droppped. He was sentenced to one year life, and was paroled after 34 months under the "indetermine sentencing" program. The program allowed a parole board, not a judge, to decide on when offenders could be released based on if they appeared rehabilitated. With Alcala´s ability to charm, he was back out on the streets in less than 3 years.

Within 8 weeks he returned to prison for violating his parole for providing marihuana to a 13 year old girl. She told police that Alcala kidnapped her, but he was not charged.

Alcala spent another 2 years behind bars and was released in 1977, again under the "indetermine sentencing" program. He returned to Los Angeles and got a job as a typesetter for the Los Angeles Times.

More Victims

It dis not take long for Alcala to get back to his murderous rampage.

- The Murder Of Jill Barcomb, Los Angeles County

In November 1977, Alcala raped, sodomized and murdered 18 year old Jill Barcomb, a New York native who had recently moved to California. Alcala used a large rock to smash in her face, and strangle her to death by tying her belt and pant leg around her neck.

Alcala then left her body in a mountainous area in the foothills near Hollywood, where she was discovered Nov. 10, 1977, posed on her knees with her face in the dirt.

- Murder of Georgia Wixted, Los Angeles County

In December 1977, Alcala raped, sodomized and murdered 27 year old nurse Georgia Wixted. Alcala used a hammer to beat and smash in her head. He strangled her to death using a nylon stocking and left her body posed in her Malibu apartment. Her body was discovered Dec. 16, 1977.

- Murder of Charlotte Lamb, Los Angeles County

In June 1979, Alcala raped, beat and murdered 33 year old legal secretary Charlotte Lamb. Alcala strangled Charlotte to death using a shoelace from her shoe and left her body posed in a laundry room of an El Segundo apartment complex where it was discovered June 24, 1979.

- Murder of Jill Parenteau, Los Angeles County

In June 1979, Alcala raped and murdered 21 year old Jil Parenteau in her Burbank apartment. He strangled Jill to death using a cord or nylon. Alcala´s blood was collected from the scene after he cut himself crawling through a window. Based on a semi-rare blood match, Alcala was linked to the murder. He was charged for murderin Jill, but the case was later dismissed.

-Murder of Robin Samsoe, Orange County

On June 20, 1979, Alcala approached 12 year old Robin Samsoe and her friend Bridget Wilvert at Huntington Beach and asked them to pose for pictures. After posing for a series of photographs, a neighbor intervened and asked if everything was alright and Samsoe took off. Later Robin got on a bike and headed to an afternoon dance class.

Alcala kidnapped and murdered Samsoe and dumped her body near Sierra Madre in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Her body was scavenged by animals and her skelatal remains were discovered July 2, 1979. Her front teeth had been knocked out by Alcala.

Arrested

After the Samsoe murder, Alcala rented a storage locker in Seattle, where police found hundreds of photos of young women and girls and a bag of personal items that they suspected belonged to Alcala´s victims. A pair of earrings found in the bag were identified by Samsoes mother as being a pair she owned.

Alcala was also identified by several people as the photographer from the beach on the day Samsoe was kidnapped.

Following an investigation, Alcala was charged, tried and convicted for Samsoes murder in 1980. He was sentenced to receive the death penalty. The conviction was later overturned by the Clifornia Supreme court.

Alcala was again tried and convicted for the murder of Samsoe in 1986, and was again sentenced to the death penalty. The second conviction was overturned by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

At the end of the trial Alcala got the death penalty.

More Victims?

Immediatley after Alcala´s conviction, the Huntington police released 120 of Alcala´s pictures to the public. Suspecting that Alcala had more victims, the police asked for the public´s help in identifying the woman and children in the photos. Since then several of the unknown faces have been identified.

Currently Alcala is on death row at San Quentin State Prison.